Harrison Junior Olivia Barbulescu Skates With Team USA

Harrison High School junior Olivia Barbulescu is a member of Team USA's synchronized ice skating team.Photo Credit: Courtesy of Harrison Central School DistrictPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Harrison Central School District

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HARRISON, N.Y. – Harrison High School junior Olivia Barbulescu has begun practicing her synchronized ice skating skills as a member of Team USA for the upcoming 2014 competition schedule.

Team USA will begin in November its journey toward the 2014 Junior World Championships, which will be in Switzerland in March.

As a top-level figure skater, Barbulescu disliked the idea of individual competition and instead pursued the team aspect of skating by joining the Skyliners' synchronized skating team, representing the Skating Club of New York and the Springdale Figure Skating Club in Stamford, Conn.,
according to a press release
from the school district.

After eight years with Skyliners, the release said Barbulescu committed herself to making Team USA by practicing every day, taking ice dancing and freestyle lessons, and practicing with the team on the weekends.

“I had to run to increase my endurance and do all types of classes and stretches for flexibility,” she said in the release. “My coaches were tough on me to motivate me.”

Barbulescu was named to Team USA in March 2013. She, along with her other teammates, are preparing for a whirlwind competition schedule. Team USA will be competing at the Junior World Qualifier in Fond du Lac, Wis. and International Competition in Salzburg, Austria in January with the goal of advancing to the Junior World finals in March.

Her team also will compete this February at the 2014 U.S. Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo. While synchronized skating is not yet an Olympic event, it is being reviewed for eligibility.